Bridal Wreath Spirea Trimming

To say that our bridal wreath spirea was way overgrown and a total mess would be an understatement! We have lived in this home for 20 years and other than cutting out branches here and there, the spirea has never had a good trimming.

 

 My sister and her husband had a weed eater that they no longer needed so they gave it to us and boy, did it ever save us oodles of time.  It only took us...ahem...my husband, approximately two hours to trim the entire hedge.  That sounds like quite awhile, but when you consider the total mess it was in, I'm thinking it was fantastic.  Both sides had big piles of branches.

Now that it is all trimmed, I can't wait for spring to see how it is going to look.  The farthest end is so thick but due to a bad winter a few years ago, this lower end is a bit more sparse, as you can see in the above photo.  I hope we did a good thing trimming it up.

Jade Tree

Many years ago, my friend gave me a Jade Plant.  This morning as I was sitting at the table, I noticed some spiky things hanging down from one of the stems. I've never noticed those before so I got up to look to see what they were.  As I touched them, to my surprise, they were actually really stiff and a little sharp.

It was then that I notice my plant actually had a cluster of pinkish white flowers at the tip of another stem.

 

I called my friend (whose plant/tree is at least five feet tall) who gave me the plant to tell her about my flowers.  She said that she also had her plant many years before it flowered.  She stated that now my plant has started blooming, it should bloom every springtime.

I decided to hit the net to see what information it had about my Jade Plant.  I read that my plant had many different names.....Money Tree, Money Plant, Jade Plant, Jade Tree, Friendship Tree, Lucky Plant, Dollar Plant, and Pink Joy.  It's scientific name is: Crassula Ovata and is native to South Africa and Mozambique.

WHO KNEW?!.....NOT ME.

To find out more information on the Jade, you can do a Google search, or by clicking HERE, it will take you to the site where I gathered my information.

The following photo is from the site I was searching.... Photo via gardensonline.com.au

I wonder if my plant will ever look this beautiful...........

March 2018 Visiting Teaching Handout

I love the new direction we have been given with regards to visiting teaching.  It makes it nice that we are given a principle to follow each month in meeting the needs of the sisters we are over for visiting teaching.  This month the Visiting Teaching Principle is "Pray For Each Sister By Name".  I don't think this principle needs any explanation - the principle itself states it all!  What a wonderful blessing we can give to others, just by praying for them.  It not only blesses those receiving, but it also truly blesses the person offering the prayer.
The visiting teaching handout I chose to put together this month includes the statement given by David A. Bednar.  Pray - Hear - Heed!

Weather Switch-A-Roo

Wow....what a switch-a-roo.  We went from spring-like weather most of the entire winter season to 12.5" of snow on the ground when we woke up this morning.  What more can I say that pictures won't tell.

   

 

 

     

 

  

  

    

Thank goodness my husband owns a trusty blue steed.  It took him most of the morning to clear us out.

Time Out For Women - 2018

Below is a copy of this years ticket, being only one of five others purchased in previous years. And...unless of an emergency of some sort, I will not miss attending future years to come.  My youngest daughter is actually the one who purchases the tickets for us and thus, her name shows on the ticket.

TOFW (Time Out For Women) is the most uplifting, spiritual, funny, tearful, make-you-happy event that I can think of. My 2 daughters, my sister, and myself have been traveling to this event since 2012, only missing the year of 2014.  We started out attending the event in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for the first two years, but for the last four years, we have been traveling to Layton, Utah.  We have found that we enjoy the Layton, Utah venue much better.  They have more room for sitting, eating, bathroom stops, etc.  My oldest daughter moved to Oregon in October, so she was unable to attend this year.

This is a two-day event (if you'd like....you can also just attend on Friday or Saturday).  Our Friday night program had the following speakers/musician:

And...our Saturday program had the following speakers/musicians:

FABULOUS is only one of the many words I can use to describe this event.  You can read about each of the presenters and learn a little about who they are, by clicking on their names... JENNY OAKS BAKER - LAUREL C. DAY - GAIL MILLER - MERCY RIVER - CAROL J. DECKER - MARY ELLEN EDMUNDS - ANTHONY SWEAT - ELAINE S. DALTON.

You can also read about each of the previous events we have attended by clicking on the following dates: March 2012 - March 2013 - February 2015 - February 2016 - February 2017.

The TOFW theme for this year was/is (there are still presenting venues available) "Centered in Christ" - with the scripture..."I am the vine, ye are the branches" - John 15:5. 

 Here is a schedule of the event places that you can still attend.

It's kind of humorous, but each year they pass out to each and every one in attendance, a tote...a tote that everyone looks forward to getting and wondering what it will look like.  Below is a picture of the tote we received this year.

At the event, they also have a huge room where people can display and sell items.  One of and a huge part of displays come from the Deseret Book Store.  While walking around and looking at everything during break time, I came across a charm that has the word "Listen" on it with a heart.  In our ward council meetings, our bishop has asked each of the leaders to really listen to the promptings we receive and to act upon them immediately.  After purchasing this charm and putting it on a chain that I regularly wear around my neck, it has really made me become aware of LISTENING.  In the few days I have had the charm and have been trying really hard to listen and follow those good promptings, I have had a few experiences that have come to my attention that I have acted upon, that have been really good.

 

If you are looking for one of those "Time-of-Your-Life" experiences, I encourage you to take the time and attend TOFW.  I promise, you will never regret it!